Each October I look forward to football, changing colors and the apple orchard. When I was a kid, Waldo Orchards was located near my home town. A trip to the orchard meant apples of course but it also had taffy apples and candy. Tours by horse drawn wagons of the orchard were available. Of course there were the autumn smells.
I have transitioned to an orchard near Waupun which was close to where I used to work. It extended the traditional to pick up apples. The new location has pies. The speciality is standard apple but my favorite is the dutch apple. My “real” reason for going to the orchard isn’t the apples. It is the pies.
I admit that the 1 hour trip to Waupun to pick up apples borders on ridiculous especially with all the road construction around Oshkosh. All the apples are available at Festival Foods and I figure I can do without the pies. Really!
Grasshopper No.1 must have felt sorry for me because she showed up recently with a freshly baked dutch apple pie. One piece was missing. She admitted to taking a piece hot out of the oven. I got to cut a piece of pie from the tin figuring that I’d save the rest for th next few days. Grasshopper No.1 then pulled the cruelest of all acts. What I didn’t eat immediately, she was taking home. 30 years ago I would have eaten the whole damn thing but maturity has slowed me down. So some of the dutch apple pie is back in Sheboygan. Grasshopper No.1 giveth and then tooketh away!
Actually I appreciate No.1 thinking about her dear old Dad. Thank you No.1. The pie she baked was scrumptious and it filled my October “itch”.
I’m told apples are magic. They are nutrious and keep the doctor away. Enjoy the magic.
Love,
Dad